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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
NISS, n., v. Also deriv. nizzen. Cf. Nirs.
I. n. A harsh, bitter, or strong taste (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964).
II. v. As pa.p. nizzend, tainted, smelly, slightly decayed (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1964).
[Norw. dial. niss, Faer. nissur, O.N. hnissa, a strong smell or taste, Norw. dial. nissen, distasteful, insipid.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Niss n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/niss>
